2005 1st Round
6. Ricky Romero - LHP, Cal State Fullerton - Toronto Blue Jays: Romero currently ranks as the Blue Jays 3rd best prospect, according to Baseball America. He started off well for Dunedin in the FSL, but struggled a little when he was promoted to AA New Hampshire. He struck out twenty-six fewer batters than innings pitched there, while he was three over in his time with Dunedin. I'll agree with BA's assessment that Romero will be Toronto's #3 starter for the foreseeable future with Holliday and Burnett anchoring the rotation.
8. Wade Townsend - RHP, Rice/No College - Tampa Bay Devil Rays: And he gets drafted in the same exact slot the very next year. He signed and pitched rather blandly in the NY-Penn League. He missed all of 2006 due to Tommy John surgery.
9. Mike Pelfrey - RHP, Wichita State - New York Mets: Pelfrey took the fast road to the Majors as he pitched 4 games for the Mets this season. He was shaky with his command and control during that time. He needs a little more time in the minors but he should turn out to be all right in the long run.
15. Lance Broadway - RHP, Texas Christian - Chicago White Sox: When I would mention this guy to my brother he always said, "Are you sure he isn't a porn star?" After being drafted, he was sent to Winston-Salem of the Carolina League where he allowed more hits than innings pitched. 2006 was a decent year for Broadway as he spent the entire season with AA Birmingham before a one-game performance for AAA Charlotte. His K/9 dipped by three and threw 10 wild pitches.
18. Cesar Carrillo - RHP, Miami - San Diego Padres: After being drafted, Carrillo looked like he was going to be the first player from the draft to reach the Majors. He was even considered for a call-up in late 2005. He reached AA Mobile in 2005 and started 2006 there before he came down with an elbow injury early on.
24. Brian Bogusevic - LHP, Tulane - Houston Astros: Bogusevic was the top two-way talent in the draft and the Astros nabbed him as a pitcher, which was not unexpected. His first professional start was just brutal from y recollection, but he's done better from then on out. He spent most of the season with Low-A Lexington where he made 17 starts with little fanfare.
25. Matt Garza - RHP, Fresno State - Minnesota Twins: I believe we've discussed the merits of Garza, though at the time of the draft I thought it was a stretch to take Garza in the regular portion of the 1st round.
26. Craig Hansen - RHP, St. John's - Boston Red Sox: The New York writers pounded the Yankees for not taking him over C.J. Henry (since traded to the Phillies). If he was Craig Hansen from Indiana State, there would have little uproar. With that said, Hansen has spent time with the Red Sox each of the past two seasons. He needs to work on his BB:K ratio but no one can deny the stuff he has.
27. Joey Devine - RHP, North Carolina State - Atlanta Braves: Has Devine been hurt by appearing the Majors too early? He was great in the Minors for 2005 and had a great string of appearances after a promotion to AA Mississippi in 206.
29. Jacob Marceaux - RHP, McNeese State - Florida Marlins: Control, control, control. Marceaux has allowed 71 BBs in 183 IP since being drafted.
35. Cesar Ramos - RHP, Long Beach State - San Diego Padres: Ramos had a nondescript debut in 2005 and he continued that performance in 2006. Opposing batters in the Cal League hit .292 in 2006 and had allowed 161 hits in 141 IP.
40. Luke Hochevar - RHP, Tennessee - Los Angeles Dodgers: Wanted a large contract and decided to sign with the Dodgers around Labor Day. He backed out shortly thereafter and reentered the 2006 draft. He became the 1st overall pick.
42. Clay Buchholz - RHP, Angelina College - Boston Red Sox: Buchholz now ranks as BA's number two prospect in the Red Sox organization and it is hard to argue against that position. He spent most of the 2006 season in the South Atlantic League and struck out 117 opposing batters in 103 IP. He allowed ten gopher balls there. He received a promotion to High-A Wilmington of the Carolina League. In three starts he won twice, struck out 23 batters and allowed only two earned runs in sixteen innings.
43. Mark McCormick - RHP, Baylor - St. Louis Cardinals: McCormick has an explosive arm and can reach 100 MPH on the gun. He ended the 2005 season with the Swing of the Quad Cities where things could have gone better. His whip was around 1.62 but he did strike out 45 batters in 42 2/3 IP. It was more of the same this past season, but there's still hope for him.
48. Garrett Olson - LHP, Cal Poly - Baltimore Orioles: I thought Olson would have been a good second round pick for the Rockies, but things don't always go as planned as a result of the supplemental first round. Olson currently is the number six prospect for the Orioles according to Baseball America and should start in AAA this year.
Later Round Guys
Kevin Slowey - RHP, Winthrop - Minnesota Twins - 2nd Round: Slowey isn't the flashiest pitcher around but he gets things done. He dominated Low-A and High-A and did fairly well after a promotion to AA New Britain.
Micah Owings - RHP, Tulane - Arizona Diamondbacks - 3rd Round: Owings was the Rockies 2nd round pick in 2002 but going to Georgia Tech was more appealing to him. He was drafted by the Cubs in 2004 as an eligible sophomore but transferred to Tulane instead. His career has worked out well, as he started at High-A Lancaster after being drafted. He pitched as a reliever there but worked solely as a starter in 2006. He arrived at AAA Tucson during the middle of 2006 and should find a spot in Arizona soon.